Short questions with Dana Perino for Trey Gowdy

You've seen us on screen, but have you ever wondered what we're like off-camera? 

For the last few months, I’ve enjoyed checking in with some of your favorite Fox personalities to learn more about who they are behind the scenes. 

What's the one thing Jesse Watters couldn’t live without? What's Bill Hemmer’s favorite Halloween costume? And what's sitting on Greg Gutfeld’s nightstand? 

But that's not all! The fun is just getting started.

This week we're excited to shine the spotlight on Trey Gowdy, who hosts Fox News Channel’s "Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy" (Sundays, 9-10p.m. ET) and "The Trey Gowdy Podcast" on Fox News Audio. He joined the network as a contributor in January 2019.

P.S. We have so much more in store for you. Stay tuned each week for new editions of "Short Questions with Dana Perino" — and if there’s a question you want answers to or a suggestion for the person I should interview next, leave a note in the comments section below! 

Q: American dream: Dead or alive?

TG: Very much alive for anyone who wants to claim it. 

Q: Last book you read?  

TG: Just finished "The Water Dancer" and just started (restarted) "In Search of Lost Time."

Q: What question do you think every manager should ask in a job interview? 

TG: "How do you distinguish success from significance?" 

Q: What four people, living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party? 

TG: My wife, Terri; Jesus; Bono; and Judas Iscariot.

Q: What’s the best part about living in a small town in America? 

TG: The familiarity, the memories and the connectivity. 

Q: If you could have a conversation with your younger self, what advice would you give?  

TG: Imagine the closing argument for your life and make decisions best calculated to get you there. Define success and significance according to your own terms — and be careful about the voices you allow into your life. 

Q: In your opinion, what makes America unique and special among other nations? 

TG: We are an unusual hybrid of forgiveness and consequence, of truth and the freedom to tell untruths — but at least we believe there are truths and that a union of the self-governed can strive toward perfection. 

Define success and significance according to your own terms — and be careful about the voices you allow into your life. 

Q: How do you overcome procrastination and stay focused on your goals?

TG: I have the opposite problem. I cannot go to sleep with an unresponded to email, text, or letter. I need help prioritizing what to do first, but I am decent at making sure it all gets done. 

Q: What is something you’re most looking forward to in the next year? 

TG: Hopefully writing a psychological crime drama and watching South Carolina win the SEC. 

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To read all of Dana Perino's earlier "Short Questions" interviews for Fox News Digital, check out this (long) list!

For her interview with Johnny "Joey" Jones, click here. 

For her interview with Bill Melugin, click here. 

For her interview with Jimmy Failla, click here. 

For her interview with Tyrus, click here. 

For her interview with Ainsley Earhardt, click here. 

For her interview with Lawrence Jones, click here. 

For her interview with Dr. Arash Akhavan, click here. 

For her interview with Martha MacCallum, click here. 

For her interview with Bret Baier, click here. 

For her interview with Kayleigh McEnany, click here.

For her interview with Harold Ford Jr., click here. 

For her interview with Shannon Bream, click here. 

For her interview with Jessica Tarlov, click here.

For her interview with Leo Terrell, click here.

For her interview with Geraldo Rivera, click here. 

For her interview with Clay Travis, click here.

For her interview with Bill Hemmer, click here. 

For her interview with Greg Gutfeld, click here. 

For her interview with Benjamin Hall, click here. 

For her interview with Judge Jeanine Pirro, click here.

For her interview with Jesse Watters, click here.